• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, May 28, 2025

MLB Wants to Split ESPN’s Rights Between Multiple Companies

Rather than seeking a one-for-one replacement for ESPN’s MLB rights expiring after the 2025 season, the league is expected to cast its attention in multiple directions. 

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

As anticipation continues to rise over MLB’s plans for national media rights after its high-profile divorce from ESPN, the answer emerging is that the league will likely opt for multiple partners to take that inventory. 

Rather than a single rights holder coming in to take on the rights being forfeited by the Disney-owned network, MLB is increasingly looking at breaking up those rights into several parts. Among the potential outcomes:

  • A new broadcaster for the Home Run Derby, with Fox and Netflix among those said to be interested.
  • A network-based home for Sunday Night Baseball, for decades a signature showcase for MLB. NBC Sports already has a dominant property with Sunday Night Football and plans to put big NBA games in that same time slot after the NFL wraps up each season. Extending that concept to baseball and potentially creating a year-round stranglehold on that time slot is intriguing to the Comcast-owned network. 
  • The wild-card round that’s exclusively been on ESPN is fetching interest from multiple entities, both in linear TV and streaming. 

Much of this consideration, however, is an interim one as MLB is looking to overhaul its entire national and local media strategy and offer combined sets of rights in 2028 when its other national-rights deals expire. 

The crucial question is whether this strategy will yield a collective sum greater than the prior whole—one worth $550 million per year in the deal with ESPN now expiring after the 2025 season. Within MLB and the teams, however, there is optimism that can happen, particularly after the league both ended the 2024 season and began the 2025 one with strong viewership growth.

“I think the market is going to be surprised at the enthusiasm and uptake on these sets of rights that are becoming available for next year,” Braves chairman Terry McGuirk said last month. “I know that the interest is very strong, and I’m sure you’ll hear more from [commissioner] Rob Manfred on this in the coming weeks.”

Fox has already shown openness to expanding its already extensive MLB portfolio, with network COO John Nallen saying the league “has been a great product for us.” Most recently, NBC Sports president of acquisitions and partnerships Jon Miller conveyed a similar sentiment at a SportsPro conference, saying the network is “kicking the tires” on MLB.

“There’s so much great product out there with so many terrific athletes, so many compelling stories, great ownership, great markets, and so I’m excited for the future of baseball. I think it’s a very positive outlook for them,” Miller said.

Back in Bristol

Industry sources describe the tense attitude between MLB and ESPN as the equivalent of middle-aged spouses getting divorced after a long marriage. Both sides are lawyered up and don’t want to compromise. ESPN, however, is holding out an olive branch and is willing to come back to the negotiating table—albeit still at a lower price. MLB thus far has spurned those overtures and is looking for new partners. There remains some sense, however, that a reunion is not impossible. 

“Here’s hope both sides come to their senses—and hash this out,” says one source. “It’s time for a compromise.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA East Finals Delivers Strong TV Ratings, but West Is Struggling

The Knicks and Thunder are both up 3–1 in their conference finals series.
Feb 14, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the Kansas City Royals 1985 and 2015 World Series championships on the scoreboard at Kauffman Stadium at the Truman Sports Complex.

Chiefs, Royals Stadium Public Funding Standoff Nears Endgame

Missouri legislators will review stadium bonds for the Chiefs and Royals.

Featured Today

How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis

“It’s almost impossible to think about tennis without thinking about Rolex.”
Mar 23, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) reacts after winning a point against Madison Keys (USA)(not pictured) on day six of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 24, 2025

Alex Eala Is Defying Her Country’s Odds to Make French Open History

The Philippines native has overcome a unique set of financial odds.
May 24, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Basketball Universe—Thanks to Both Pro Teams

The Fever and Pacers are thriving at the same time.
Around the Horn - October 26, 2020
May 23, 2025

‘Quirky, Nutty, Bombastic’: 10 ‘Around the Horn’ Faces on Their Top Moments

“A quirky, nutty, bombastic, mostly wrong, sometimes right, crazy sports family.”
Around the Horn

Behind the Scenes of Around the Horn’s Final Days

FOS followed Tony Reali at the penultimate taping of the ESPN icon.
May 21, 2025

Paige Bueckers’s WNBA Debut Delivers 121% Ratings Bump on Ion

Friday’s doubleheader averaged 612,000 viewers.
May 22, 2025

NBC Eyes MLB Rights, Looks to Own Sunday Nights Year-Round

The league continues to shop media rights being forfeited by ESPN.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
Dec 9, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) watches as center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates after making a three point basket to clinch a win against the Toronto Raptors near the end of the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena.
May 20, 2025

NBA Playoff TV Ratings Up 3% Ahead of Late-Round Test

Games are averaging 4.17 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, and TNT.
May 18, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Scottie Scheffler is interviewed after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow.
May 20, 2025

PGA Championship TV Ratings Dip As Scottie Scheffler Dominates Again

CBS drew an average of 4.76 million viewers for Sunday’s final round.
May 20, 2025

Caitlin Clark, Fever Draw Record 2.7M Viewers vs. Sky

Caitlin Clark recorded her third career triple-double.
Julie Foudy
exclusive
May 16, 2025

Julie Foudy Out at ESPN After Two Decades

Foudy and ESPN failed to reach an agreement on a new deal.